The Queen's Tales

Chapter 21: Set Sail

In the three Narnian years that past, Chloe and Caspian became great rulers, loved and respected by their subjects. After the victory at the second Battle of Beruna, as it was later called, Caspian and Chloe made good on their promise to bring Narnia back into a prosperous and peaceful time. There was a stiff from the giants that was shut down at the earliest moment, and as a result they now pay tribute to the crown. With a lot more humans in Narnia this time around, both rulers received countless offers of marriage, but both refused. Chloe never removed the dainty ring from her finger, making it quite clear she was spoken for.

Back in our world, where another year had past, Edmund and Lucy were forced to spend their time back in Cambridge with their aunt, uncle, and dreaded cousin. Their father had safely returned home and was on leave in America with their mother and Susan. Peter was studying with Chloe's grandfather, Professor Kirke. Digory missed his granddaughter immensely, but the moment she'd returned and made it back to school, Lucy phoned the kind professor to alert him of his granddaughter's whereabouts and that she wouldn't be returning for a little while.

Edmund missed Chloe dearly, he started carrying around a small photo he had of the two of them that had been taken shortly before he'd left the Professor's house. A part of him felt useless...his girl was off in a magical land ruling over a kingdom, his brother was studying, his older sister off in America, he wanted to do something! So what does he do? He tries to illegally enlist in the army.

"Are you sure you're eighteen?" The soldier asked the underage boy who was waiting in line.

"Why do I look older?" Edmund asked quickly before handing the man his forged documents.

The soldier read the name and raised an eyebrow at the boy, "Alberta Scrubb?"

"That's a typographical error," Edmund retorted quickly, "It's supposed to read Albert A. Scrubb."

Unbeknownst to him, Lucy was watching him by the door annoyed, "Edmund," she called loudly gaining his attention along with the other men who were waiting to enlist, "You're supposed to be helping me with the groceries."

The man behind Edmund started obnoxiously laughing as the soldier handed Edmund back his form, "Better luck next time, eh, squirt?" He teased as Edmund slumped away, sending a dirty look to his sister.

"Squirt? He barely had two years on me! And I'll be eighteen in a few months anyway!" He snapped taking the box from Lucy before walking over to his bike, "I'm a king! I've fought wars and I've led armies."

Lucy shook her head, "Not in this world, remember?"

"Yeah, instead I am stuck here, doing battle with Eustace Clarence Scrubb while my girlfriend is having the time of her life being Queen by Caspian's side," he muttered angrily.

Lucy caught the jealous tone in his voice, before hearing the giggle behind him coming from a girl who was flirting with one of the newly enlisted. Recently, Lucy had been feeling mighty left out of the whole young love phase that it seemed most girls went through. Having seen Susan kiss Caspian before they'd left Narnia, and knowing how much Edmund loved Chloe and was jealous at how she was with Caspian while he was stuck here. She wondered what they might have that she didn't.

Edmund stopped his rant, noticing his sister wasn't paying attention, "What are you doing?" He raised an eyebrow watching her try to mimic the girl by putting her hair behind her ear.

"Oh...nothing. C'mon let's go!" She rushed mounting her bike, "And just so you know, Chloe wouldn't be happy if she knew you were trying to enlist in the army!" She told him.

His face turned a subtle pink with embarrassment, he knew she was right. If Chloe found out what he was trying to do, he would be on the receiving end of a wack from her staff, "That's why we're not going to tell her." It's not like we could even if we wanted to. He thought to himself as they rode their bikes back to the Scrubb residence.